The University of Maryland’s Institute for Governmental Service and Research has been reviewing the processes of community and traditional prosecution in two Maryland counties. Through individual interviews and survey responses from State’s Attorney’s Office staff, local police departments and community organizations, the researchers have gathered data on the daily operations, goals, and collaborative relationships created by both community prosecution and traditional prosecution units, with special focus on cases of gun violence. The research found that problem-solving is highly regarded by both traditional and community prosecutors. However, the offices are only beginning to achieve a problem-solving focus. Prosecutors have formed useful partnerships that may help lead to further problem-solving strategies as community prosecution units continue to develop and gain experience. The report concludes with recommendations for further areas of development and future outcome evaluations of community prosecution.

Wyckoff, L.; Fogg, H.; McCloskey, M.; (2009)

This report presents an overview of the impact of the Proactive Community Supervision (PCS) strategy on key offender outcomes---rearrest rates, warrants for violation of probation, and adherence to offender supervision plans. To determine whether the PCS process achieves the intended goals, a team of researchers from the University of Maryland and Virginia Commonwealth University evaluated the impact of the PCS process on offender outcomes.

Taxman, F.S.; Yancey, C.; Bilanin, J.; (2006)

Though faith- and community-based organizations are an integral part of this nation's social service delivery network---particularly to some of the most disenfranchised members of society---there is a paucity of rigorous empirical examinations on program effectiveness and client outcomes. Attention to the ability of these organizations to effectively provide services to clients is certainly needed. Specifically, how well do these organizations address the needs facing many of their clients, and how do the services affect improved outcomes? In addition, what is the value of providing these professional services in a manner that not only addresses the social and physical needs of clients, but also nurtures and seeks to strengthen their spiritual side as well? These are the critical questions that we address in this research.

Thanner, M.H.; Yancey, C.; Taxman, F.S.; (2004)

Consistent with the few studies that have previously examined treatment prevalence and access in the adult and juvenile justice systems, the recent National Criminal Justice Treatment Practices (NCJTP) survey indicated that there is a particular need to expand intensive treatment modalities for offenders in both institutional and community corrections settings. Applying multilevel modeling techniques to NCJTP survey data, this study explores conditions and factors that may underlie the wide variation among states in the provision of intensive treatment for offenders. Results indicate that states' overall rates of substance abuse and dependence, funding resources, and the state governor's political party affiliation were significantly associated with intensive treatment provision. Numerous factors that have been implicated in recent studies of evidence-based practice adoption, including state agency executives' views regarding rehabilitation, agency culture and climate, and other state-level measures (e.g., household income, crime rates, expenditures on treatment for the general population) were not associated with treatment provision. Future research should examine further variations in offenders' service needs, the role of legislators' political affiliations, and how other factors may interact with administrator characteristics in the adoption and expansion of intensive treatment services for offenders.

Young, D.W.; Farrell, J.; Henderson, C.E.; Taxman, F.S.; (2009)

This study used hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to examine the extent to which the organizational characteristics of state corrections agencies and local criminal justices facilities interacted to predict the extent to which local facilities are using evidence-based substance abuse treatment practices (EBPs). The study used data collected from two nationally representative surveys---one of state executives and the other of local wardens and justice administrators---which were conducted as part of the National Criminal Justice Treatment Practices survey (NCJTP; Taxman et al., 2007), and includes both adult criminal and juvenile justice samples. Results indicated that several state organizational characteristics were either associated with more EBP use or interacted with local organizational characteristics to predict EBP use, including: (1) systems integration at the state level was associated with greater EBP use; (2) state staffing adequacy and stability accentuated the impact that local training and resources for new programs were associated with EBP use (i.e., in states with better staffing, the relationship between training/resources and EBP use in local facilities was stronger); and (3) state executives---attitudes regarding the missions and goals of corrections tended to diminish the extent to which corresponding local administrator attitudes were associated with EBP use. The study has implications for future research focused on EBP diffusion and implementation in correctional environments, particularly attempts to influence EBP use through leveraging state agencies.

Henderson, C.E.; Young, D.W.; Farrell, J.; Taxman, F.S.; (2009)

This study used item response theory (IRT) to examine the extent to which criminal justice facilities and community-based agencies are using evidence-based substance abuse treatment practices (EBPs) and which EBPs are most commonly used. The study used data collected from wardens, justice administrators, and treatment directors as part of the National Criminal Justice Treatment Practices survey (NCJTP; Taxman et al., in press a) and covered both adult criminal and juvenile justice samples. Results of the Rasch modeling demonstrated that a reliable measure can be formed indicating the extent to which juvenile and adult correctional facilities, and community treatment agencies serving offenders, have adopted various research-supported treatment practices suggested by the literature. We also demonstrated the concurrent validity of the measure by showing that features of the facilities’ organizational contexts were associated with the extent to which facilities were using EBPs, and which EBPs they were using. Researchers, clinicians, and program administrators may find these results of interest not only because they show the program factors most strongly related to EBP use, but also suggest that certain treatment practices are generally found together, which may assist stakeholders in planning for and prioritizing the implementation of new EBPs in their facilities.

Henderson, C.E.; Taxman, F.S.; Young, D.W.; (2008)

Despite consensus about the value of substance abuse treatment for delinquent youth, information about its prevalence and availability is inadequate and inconsistent. This paper presents findings about treatment and other correctional service provision from a national survey of directors of 141 juvenile institutional and community corrections facilities. Educational/GED programming and drug and alcohol education were the most prevalent types of correctional and substance abuse services. Other common services included physical health services and mental health assessment, provided to about 60% of youth across facilities, and mental health counseling, life and communication skills, and anger management, provided to about half the youth. Substance abuse treatment, as with most other services, were more prevalent in large, state-funded residential facilities (where 66% provided treatment), than local detention centers (20%) and community corrections facilities (56%). More detailed data showed that the number of youth attending treatment in all types of facilities on any given day was very low.

Young, D.W.; Dembo, R.; Henderson, C.E.; (2007)

This study examined the extent to which organizational context predicted use of evidence-based substance abuse treatment practices with juvenile offenders. Participants were either directors of substance abuse treatment programs located in residential facilities (institutional sample) or directors of community-based treatment agencies providing services to adolescents in their home communities (community sample). The two settings differed significantly in the number and types of EBPs they were using. Community programs were more likely to have staff qualified to deliver substance abuse treatment, involve families in treatment, and assess their treatment outcomes. In contrast, institutional programs were more likely to provide comprehensive services. Resources dedicated to training, internal support for new programming, and network connectedness with non-criminal justice facilities were associated with greater use of EBPs. These findings highlight the importance of establishing corrections-community partnerships designed to promote continuity of care for juvenile offenders.

Henderson, C.E.; Young, D.W.; Jainchill, N.; Hawke, J.; Farkas, S.; Davis, R. M.; (2007)

The National Criminal Justice Treatment Practices Survey provides a comprehensive inquiry into the nature of programs and services provided to adult and juvenile offenders involved in the justice system in the United States. The multi-level survey design covers topics such as the mission and goals of the correctional and treatment programs, organizational climate and culture for providing services, organizational capacity and needs, administrators and staff opinions regarding rehabilitation and punishment and services provided for offender, treatment policies and procedures, and working relationships between correctional and other agencies. The methodology generates national estimates of the availability of programs and services for offenders. This paper details the methodology and sampling frame for the NCJTP, the response rates, and the survey procedures. Prevalence estimates of juvenile and adult offenders under correctional control are provided with externally validated comparisons to illustrate the veracity of the methodology. Limitations of the survey methods are discussed.

Taxman, F.S.; Young, D.W.; Wiersema, B.; Rhodes, A.; Mitchell, S.; (2007)

Much has been written in recent years about advances in assessment technologies designed to aid decision-making in the juvenile justice system. Adoption and implementation of this latest generation of actuarial tools, however, have lagged behind their development. Assessment in juvenile justice exemplifies the science practice gap that has spurred a growing national interest in technology transfer. In this article we describe and assess efforts in one jurisdiction to close the assessment technology gap through a progressive series of research-based strategies. These include introducing field supervisors and staff to best practices concepts and tools while gauging their capacity for assimilating change, participative decision-making and peer training, and integration of the technology with existing, related practices. Researchers' use of various data-driven monitoring reports for enhancing staff accountability and implementation fidelity, addressing resistance to the use of dynamic need factors in assessment protocols, and ongoing program and policy development and are also presented and discussed.

Young, D.W.; Moline, K.; Farrell, J.; Bierie, D.; (2007)

Although research has generally been supportive of compulsory treatment programs for drug abusers, findings remain mixed, and few studies have assessed the impacts of different coercive program elements. This study compared criminal recidivism outcomes of 350 clients mandated to the same long-term residential treatment facilities from three different legal sources. On several measures of recidivism, including long-term rearrest rates that controlled for time at risk, clients mandated from two highly structured programs were found to recidivate at less than half the rate of comparison group clients. This group effect was upheld in multivariate models that controlled for pre-treatment differences and other factors related to recidivism. Combined with results of a previous retention study involving these clients, the findings provide support for the use of structured protocols for informing clients in mandatory programs about legal contingencies of participation and enforcing contingencies through frequent contact between legal agents and treatment staff.

Young, D.W.; Fluellen, R.; Belenko, S.; (2004)

In the rush to show findings on outcomes, planners and developers of new programs often overlook the crucial interim step of conducting process evaluations. Both published and anecdotal information suggest that poor program outcomes are more likely to stem from planning and implementation problems than weaknesses in the intervention model. This paper presents findings from an ongoing process evaluation of an intensive aftercare program for high risk juvenile offenders, highlighting issues and barriers that are commonly faced in implementing juvenile reintegration initiatives. Results are interpreted within a framework derived from research on organizational change. Our local findings are used to illustrate the central role of factors such as organizational mission, culture, and staff and system resources in advancing implementation of reentry innovations in juvenile justice settings.

Young, D.W.; (2004)